Wood bending machine



Dec. 14, 1943.v c. w. ELLIOTT ET Al. 2,336,535

wooD BENDING MACHINE Filed 061i. 9. 1940 2 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTORB 7@ gf @A44/w55 4 1.4/07 CHA/9153 /7/ ELI/U77- Dec 14, 1943. c, w. ELLIOTT ET AL 2.336,535

WOOD BENDING MACHINE Filed Oct. 9. 1940 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented Dec. 14, 1943 WOOD BENDIN G MACHINE Charles W. Elliott and Charles H. Elliott, Columbus, Ind.

Application October 9, 1940, Serial No. 360,490

11 Claims.

Our invention relates to wood bending machines and, while it is in some respects an improvement over the prior patent to Charles W. Elliott, No. 1,783,187, dated December 2, 1930, it is not limited to the bending of any particular form of work,

In the prior patent aforesaid and in other known devices, there is disclosed the idea of bending a sheet or strip of wood by passing it between a heating roller and an endless flexible bed which curves the work to conform to the shape of the periphery of the heating roller. Such machines had the disadvantage that they could only impart to the work a curvature concentric or substantially concentric to the heating roller. For each job requiring a different curvature, a separate machine or at least a separate heating roller had to be used.

With the foregoing in view, an object of our invention is to provide in a wood bending machine, including a rigid heating roller, adjustable means for selectively turning out work which is bent to any of a wide variety of curvatures.

A further object is to provide in a Wood bending machine, including a fixed heating roller and a flexible pressing member, means for adjusting said iexible member to any of a Wide variety of curvatures, and means for maintaining said flexible member, in the selected curvature.

A further object is to provide in a device such as that last described separate adjusting means for the end and middle of the bearing part of the iiexible member, whereby the latter is maintained in a predetermined curved shape.

A further object is to provide in a device such as that last described, separate cam means for actuating each adjusting means whereby said nexible member can be adjusted to an innite number of shapes.

A further object is to provide in a wood bending machine, including a heating roller, a flexible bed for said roller and means for selectively varying the curvature of said bed.

A further object is to provide such a last described machine, means for transforming said flexible bed into a substantially rigid bed.

A further object is to provide a novel flexible bed for a wood bending machine.

A further object is to provide a iiexble bed for a wood bending machine, which bed includes means for selectively varying the concavity of the working surface thereof.

ther objects and advantages reside in the particular structure of our device, combination and arrangement of the several parts thereof, and in the particular mode of operation, all of which will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art upon reference to the attached drawings in connection with the following detailed description forming the specification Land to the appended claims.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a longitudinal vertical section through the machine of the invention;-

Fig. 2 is a transverse vertical section taken on a plane corresponding substantially to that designated by the line 2-2 of Fig. l;

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary horizontal section on the line 3 3 of Fig. 2; and

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary plan View of a detail.

In the drawings, wherein like reference characters have been used throughout to designate like parts, I0 designates a rigid heating cylinder which is rotatably mounted between vertical extensions I2 of main frame members 24 and 24a. The cylinder l0 is driven by any suitable means (not shown) through a gear II fixed by the shaft I3 of cylinder I0. The pressure of cylinder I 0 on the bed, through the work W drives a horizontally disposed transverse shaft I 'I which is rotatably mounted in bearings 3| of an'adjusting member 35, to be described later. At the opposite end of the adjusting member 35, there are provided xed bearings 3| which rotatably mount a shaft I9 therebetween. While we have shown the mounting for but one end of the shafts II and I9, it is understood that similar means for mounting the opposite ends of shafts I'I and I9 are provided at the opposite sides of member 35 but have not been shown in order that the disclosure may be simplified. The work W is bent to the desired shape by passing it between the heating roller I0 and a flexible bed which may be an endless exible bed. The bed shown comprises a plurality of rollers 21 arranged transversely of the machine and having spindles 25 at each end and which are connected together in uniformly spaced, parallel relationship by links 25 which are iitted onto the spindles 26. There are two series of links 25 for each spindle, one series being at the inner end of the spindle to close the spaces 28 at one side and the other adjacent the free ends of the spindles to close the spaces 28 at the outside. The spaces 28 provided between the spindles 25 are adapted to receive the teeth 29 of the sprockets I8 and also the teeth 29 0f like sprockets 23 which are fixed on the shaft I9, at the opposite end of the machine. If desired, the roller I0 may be vertically adjustable in the frame members 24 and 24a by any suitable means such as that disclosed in Patent No. 1,783,187 aforesaid.

It is readily apparent from the foregoing and as disclosed in Fig. l, that the machine as described so far will bend a piece of work W by the pressure of the bed on the work against the rigid roller ID or vice versa and that the bed is driven by friction at a speed corresponding to the peripheral speed of cylinder le. This may also be accomplished by a suitable choice of gearing or in any other known manner (not shown).

To enable our device to bend work, in a, plurality of arcs having different radiiand without making it necessary to substitute a new cylinder I0, we have provided a novel means foi` adjusting the bed which will now be described. Each of the main frame members 24 and 24a are provided on the inner surfaces thereof with a pair of spaced undercut guide members 33 which slidingly mount the depen-ding leg members 34 of the main adjusting member 35 which is substantially of inverted U-shape in end elevation. The adjusting member 35 is substantially horizontally disposed below the bed and is provided at each end with an upstanding end flange 3B. the lfree edge of which is rounded and bears against the underside of a flexible metal plate31 inwardly of the downwardly turned ends 31a thereof. Adjacent the lower ends thereof, the legs 34 of the adjusting member 35 are spanned by a shaft 33 which is freely rotatable therein and on which is fixed a roller 39. A shaft 4B is mounted in the frame members 24 and 24a below the lower ends of the legs 34 and is adapted t0 be rotated by a hand lever 4I. Cams 42 are fixed on the shaft 4G and are adapted to engage the roller 39 on rotation of the hand lever 4I to raise and lower the adjusting member 35 in a manner readily understood. The frames 24. 24a are provided with oppositely disposed vertical slots 43 adiacent the upper ends thereof to permit the legs 34 to slide on the main frame with a shaft 44 which is rotatably mounted in the legs 34 just below the bed. A hand wheel 45 on the shaft 44 enables it to be rotated and cams 4S which are xed on the shaft 44 Aare adapted to engage the free lower edges of legs 41 of a supplemental adjusting member 49 which is also of inverted U-shape in end elevation. The legs 41 of the supplemental adjusting member 49 are slidably mounted in slots 48 formed in the floor of the main adjusting member 35 intermediate the end flanges 33 thereof and at right angles thereto. rThe legs 4l of the supplemental adjusting member 49 are guided also in guideways 47a formedin the inner surfaces of the legs Y34 of the member 35. The supplemental adjusting member 49 has upstanding end flanges 49a which are slightly concave in cross section (Fig. 1) and bear against the under surface of the flexible plate `3l intermedia-te the ends thereof.

`In operation, the main adjusting member 35 is adjusted to a height to provide the desired curvature by the cams 42 and is locked in the adjusted position by any sui-table means such Aas a pin which may be positioned in any of a plurality of holes 6I in an arcuate member 62 carried by the frame portion 24a. The pin S9 serves as a stop to prevent the handle 4| turning in a direction to cause the retraction of the adjusting member ,35. The secondary adjusting member 49 is now adjusted by hand wheel 45 and cams 46 to press the bed against the Work which has been previously inserted between the bed and the roller I0. The secondary adjusting member 49 prevents sagging of the bed and insures the maintenance therein of the curvature having the radius or concavity for which the main adjusting member 35 has been set. Power is now applied to the gear Il of the cylinder I9 and is transmitted to the bed to cause the cylinder and bed to rotate in unison in the direction indicated by the arrows, Fig. 1, whereby the Work W is passed through the machine and is bent, not to conform to the curvature of the cylinder Ill, but to the curvature of the bed. It is to be noted that lalthough a flexible bed is used, the backing of the same by the plate 31 has the effect of transforming the bed to a rigid bed without the loss of anyof the benefits inherent in a flexible bed. The hooked ends 31a of the exible plate 3l prevent the same from being dislodged from the end flanges 35 of the adjusting member 35 as the bed passes thereover. The main cylinder I0 is heated in any suitable manner such as the manner shown in the prior patent aforesaid, No. 1,783,187 of December 2, 193.0. If `desired the flexible plate 31 may also be heated in any manner, not shown.

While we have shown and described what is thought to be the preferred embodiment of our invention, We realize that the same is susceptible of other forms and expressions. Consequently, it is not our intention to limit ourselves to the precise vform of linvention shown and described herein except as hereinafter claimed.

We claim:

1. In a wood bending machine, including a main frame, a heating roller rotatable on said main frame, a flexible and endless bed rotatable on said main frame and 'having a normally concave working run rigidly supported at its ends in spaced relation to said roller, and means for rotating said roller and bed simultaneously; means on said frame engageable with an intermediateportion of said working run of said bed and operative to rigidly support said portion in work bending relation to said roller said means including vertically and independently adjustable U-shaped members for selectively varying the curvature of said bed.

2. In a wood bending machine, including a rigid heating cylinder and means for rotating the same; a normally concave and flexible bed in spaced relation to the periphery of said roller and adapted to cooperate therewith to bend a piece vof wood therebetween, means associated with said bed and operative thereon to selectively vary the concavity thereof said varying means comprising a pair` of independent adjusting members substantially U- shaped in cross section, one member for moving the opposite ends of said bed simultaneously in a vertical direction and the other member to force the intermediate portion of said bed to a position to rigidly clamp a piece .of work against said roller.

3. In a Wood bending machine, including a main frame, a heating roller rotatable on said main frame, a flexible and endless bed rotatable on said main frame and having a normally concave working run in spaced relation to said roller, means for rotating said roller and bed simultaneously, adjusting means on said frame and including means engageable with saidibed and operative to selectively vary .the concavity of the working run thereof, said means for Varying the concavity of the working run of said bed comprising a flexible plate immediately below said run and adapted to bear against the under surface thereof, spaced U- shaped means bearing against end portions of said plate to support the same, means rigidly anchoring intermediate portions of said run and plate against downward movement, and means for advancing and retracting said spaced means whereby said plate and run are bent to a selected curvature.

4. In a wood bendinar machine, including a main frame, a heating roller rotatable on said main frame, a iiexible and endless bed rotatable o-n said main frame and having a normally concave working run in spaced relation to said roller, means for rotating said roller and bed simultaneously, adjusting means on said frame and including means engageable with said bed and operative to selectively vary the concavity of the working run thereof, said means for varying the concavity of the working run of said bed comprising a exible plate immediately below said run and adapted to bear against the under surface thereof, spaced U- shaped means bearing against end portions of said plate to support the same, means movable against an intermediate portion of said plate to move the same and said run in a direction to rigidly clamp a piece of work against said roller, means for actuating said last named means, and means for advancing and retracting said spaced means whereby said plate and run are bent to a selected curvature.

5. In a wood bending machine, including a main frame, a heating roller` rotatable on said main lrarne, a flexible and endless bed rotatable on said main frame and having a normally concave working run in spaced relation to said roller, means for rotating said roller and bed simultaneously, adjusting means on said frame and including means engageable with said bed and operative to selectively vary the concavity of the working run thereof, said means for varying the concavity of said working run of said bed comprising opposed and vertically directed guideways on said frame below said working run of said bed, a main ad- ,iustment member slidable in said guideways towards and away from said run, said member including a horizontal portion having upstanding iianges cn opposite end portions, a flexible plate resting on the upper edges of said flanges and adapted to bear against the undersurface of said run, and means for actuating' said adjustment member.

6. In a wood bending machine. including a main frame, a heating roller rotatable on said main frame. a flexible and endless bed rotatable on said main frame and having a normally concave working run in spaced relation to said roller, means for rotating said roller and bed simultaneously, i

adjusting means on said frame and includingr means engageable with said bed and operative to selectively vary the concavity of the working run thereof, said means for varying the concavity of said working run of said bed comprising opposed and vertically d'rected guideways on said frame below said working run of said bed, a main adjustment member slidable in said guideways towards and away from said run, said member including a horizontal portion having upstanding flanges on opposite end portions, a flexible plate resting on the upper edges of said anges and adapted to bear against the undersurface o-f said run, a secondary adjustment member, means mounting said secondary member on said main adjustment member for vertical sliding movement towards and away from said plate intermediate said flanges, and actuating means for said secondary adjustment member.

7. In a wood bending machine, including a main lil) frame, a heating roller rotatable on said main frame, a flexible and endless bed rotatable on said main frame and having a normally concave working run in spaced relation to said roller, means for rotating said roller and bed simultaneously, adjusting means on said frame and including means engageable with said bed and operative to selectively vary the concavity of the working run thereof, said means for varying the concavity of said working run of said bed comprising a exible plate immediately below said run and adapted to bear against the undersurface thereof, an adjustment member including spaced means bearing against the undersurface of said plate adjacent opposite end portions thereof to support said plate, means anchoring an intermediate portion of said plate and run, means mounting said member for vertical sliding movement with said plate towards and away from said roller, said anchoring means comprising a second adjustment member, means slidably mounting said second member in said rst member for movement in directions to move said plate and run towards and away from said roller, and separate means for independently actuating both of said adjustment members,

8. In a wood bending machine, including a main frame, a heating roller rotatable on said main frame, a flexible and endless bed rotatable on said main frame and having a normally concave working run in spaced relation to said roller, means for rotating said roller and bed simultaneously, adjusting means on said frame and including means engageable with said bed and operative to selectively vary the concavity of the working run thereof, said means for varying the concavity of the working run of said bed comprising a iiexible plate immediately below said run and adapted to bear against the under surface thereof, means for anchoring intermediate portions of said plate and run against downward movement, spaced means bearing against end portions of said plate to support the same, said plate including hooked ends for retaining the same on said spaced means, and means for advancing and retracting saidspaced means whereby said plate and run are bent to a selected curvature.

9. A bed for a wood bending machine, comprising an endless series of rollers, means connecting said rollers together in parallel relationship and providing uniform spaces therebetween, said spaces being adapted to receive the teeth of sprockets for actuating said bed, said bed being adapted to be mounted to provide a working run having a concave working surface, means associated with said run for selectively varying the concavity of said working surface, said last means comprising a iiexible member bearing against that surface of said run opposite to said working surface, spaced means bearing against said iiexible member 'and movable to actuate the same to vary the concavity of said working surface, one of said spaced means being movable independently of said remaining spaced means, means for actuating all of said spaced means as 'a unit, and separate means for actuating said independently movable means by itself.

10. In a wood bending machine, including a rigid heating cylinder and means for rotating the same; 'a normally concave and flexible bed adapted to cooperate with said roller to bend a piece of wood therebetween, means for moving said bed into and out of a work bending position relative to said cylinder and including means locking the ends of said bed in such position, independent means mounted on the means for moving said bed concave and flexible bed in spaced relation to the 1o periphery of said cylinder and adapted to cooperate therewith to bend a piece of Work therebetween, means rigidly supporting the ends of said bed, and a pair of independently and vertically arranged U-shaped adjusting members for rigidly supporting an intermediate portion of said bed in Work-bending relation to said cylinder.

CHARLES W. ELLIOTT. CHARLES H. ELLIOTT. 

